Q&A With Councilor-at-Large Candidate Margaret Tierney

This is one of nine Q&As with the candidates running for an at-large seat on the Peabody City Council. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

• Name: Margaret Tierney
• Age: 46
• Occupation: Sales and marketing at All Care VNA & Hospice
• Political office: Board of Library Trustees, 10 years (2004 - present)

Peabody Patch: If elected to the City Council, what issue would be first priority for you? What is one area you would like to see the city devote more resources to?

Margaret Tierney: Overall, my immediate goals will include maintaining our stable tax rate, continue improving the downtown area, incorporating a strong traffic reconfiguration, growth and overdevelopment concerns, solving the continuous flooding issues, and the drug problem in our neighborhoods and schools. As I have been listening to residents voice their concerns when knocking on doors for the past seven months I am repeatedly hearing our residents want change on our council. They want someone with new ideas, especially for the downtown area. I feel my sales and marketing background will strongly be noted when adding to our current successful downtown establishments with new, successful businesses, eventually assisting us in providing a stabilized tax rate. I’ll also be focusing on the Route 1 area and be vocal regarding the kinds of businesses we bring in to this city, noting the many neighbors with close proximity to this area. I am extremely concerned about the unacceptable traffic issues affecting us all on Route 114, Lowell Street, Lynnfield Street, Washington Street and Lynn Street that has reached an all time peak, frustrating us all, especially in the morning and late afternoon! We need to work with our public safety officials, as well as surrounding towns to begin a resolution minimizing these traffic issues!

Patch: Peabody property taxes continue to be among the lowest in the area, along with many other fees homeowners or residents may pay in the city. Are taxpayers' getting their money's worth; is the city not spending enough to provide services, education, etc; or are Peabody taxpayers still paying too much?
Tierney: The Peabody taxpayers are getting their money’s worth for what we currently offer but the residents deserve better, and they deserve more. Peabody has made great strides with this administration in moving this city forward and understanding the importance of upgrading the downtown, filling the vacancies with solid, striving businesses and resolving the flooding issues to do so. However, there is much more work to do in the next few years. Various programs like the current waste reduction program have resulted in significant savings to the city by encouraging residents and businesses to recycle. We will also need to focus on the potential revenue in Centennial Park and make this space affordable and attractive in order to be businesses-friendly.

I am delighted that we will soon have a new state-of-the-art Higgins Middle School, but I realize many of our schools including Peabody High School need rehabbing. Together, we can achieve projects like this, slowly. We should not have as many Peabody residents attending private schools, outside of Peabody, but rather offer the programs and sports that private schools offer. As a swimmer since childhood, for instance, I would love to see Peabody High School incorporate a swimming pool for our swimmers when the time comes to rehab the high school. However, we need to keep in mind we don’t put too much of a burden on the taxpayer.

Patch: Under the current mayor's administration there has been a concentrated effort to reinvigorate "pride in Peabody," which many people in the city have rallied around. What is one thing you are proud of about Peabody?
Tierney: The mayor has been successful in rediscovering “Peabody Pride.” He is a great family man and his spirit encourages families to be together, which people admire. Teddy has many family oriented events like the Mayor’s Picnic, Sunday concerts on the Leather Common, “Spaghetti with Teddy Night” and continues to support the International Festival which grows yearly. He has the enthusiastic vision, experience, and motivation to lead this city in the right direction by offering new ideas for a more vibrant, beautiful Peabody!

I am proud of our mayor and the direction he has already taken us.